Jeffrey Molina (born July 17, 1997) is an American

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorp ...

who competes in the

Flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb). Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of bo ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

(UFC). As of January 17, 2023, he is #14 in the UFC flyweight rankings.

Background

Molina was born in

Lakewood, New Jersey Lakewood Township is the most populous township in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. A rapidly growing community as of the 2020 U.S. census, the township had a total population of 135,158 representing an increase of 41,415 (+45.5% ...

. He attended

Olathe South High School Olathe South High School is a public high school located in Olathe, Kansas, United States, serving students in grades 9-12. The school is one of five high schools in the Olathe USD 233 school district. Olathe South High School was recognized as ...

, where he participated in

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat ...

. He started training MMA at age 14, coached by

Jason High Jason High (born October 12, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Lightweight division of the Professional Fighters League. A professional competitor since 2005, High has also competed for Strikeforce, Aff ...

and

LC Davis La Carvas Rashad Davis (born October 28, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Bantamweight division of Bellator MMA. A professional competitor since 2006, Davis has also formerly competed for the Quad Cities ...

. In 2017, he began training with James Krause at Glory MMA.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Molina began his professional after a successful 9-0 amateur career. His professional debut took place on Jun 2, 2017 at VFC: Fight Night Harrah's 5, where he lost the bout to Steven Merrill via rear-naked choke in the first round. He rebounded at VFC 58, where he submitted Delfino Benitez via rear-naked choke in the first round. Molina would go on to lose his next bout against Nate Smith via close split decision at Victory FC: Fight Night Coco Key. Afterwards, Molina would go on to win his next 4 bouts via stoppages, before appearing at LFA 76, submitting Chauncey Wilson via rear-naked choke in round one. Molina would go on to submit Kenny Porter via arm-triangle choke at FAC 2. Molina was invited to Dana White's Contender Series 30 on August 25, 2020, where he faced Jacob Silva, winning the bout via unanimous decision and earning a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Molina was scheduled to face

Zarrukh Adashev Zarrukh Adashev (born July 29, 1992) is an Uzbek professional kickboxer and professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division and formerly in the Bantamweight division. He has previously competed in the Ultimate Fighting C ...

on November 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos, before the bout was rescheduled for

UFC Fight Night 185 ''UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Lewis'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 185'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 43'' and ''UFC Vegas 19'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 20, 2021 at the UF ...

. However, Molina withdrew from the event at the end of December 2020. Molina made his UFC debut against Aori Qileng on April 24, 2021 at

UFC 261 ''UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on April 24, 2021 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Background The promotio ...

. He won the bout via unanimous decision. The bout earned Aori a '' Fight of the Night'' bonus award. In his sophomore performance, Molina faced Daniel da Silva on October 23, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori. He won the bout via TKO stoppage early in the second round. Molina faced

Zhalgas Zhumagulov Zhalgas Mukhambet (born August 29, 1988) better known as Zhalgas Zhumagulov, is a retired Kazakh mixed martial artist who competed in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Mixed martial arts career Early career Zhumagulov ...

on June 4, 2022 at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik. He won the bout via controversial split decision. 12 out of 13 media scores gave it to Zhumagulov. Molina was set to face Jimmy Flick on January 14, 2023 at

UFC Fight Night 217 ''UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 217'', ''UFC on ESPN+ 75'' and ''UFC Vegas 67'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on January 14, 2023, at the ...

. However, Molina withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Charles Johnson. Molina is suspended by the NYAC and NSAC effective as of November 5, 2022, linking to a result of suspicious betting activity ahead of the November 5 UFC fight between

Darrick Minner Darrick Minner (born April 28, 1990) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Born in Auburn, Nebraska and raised in Nebraska City, Minner wrestled at Nebra ...

, and Molina is temporary barred from UFC until matter is resloved.

Support for LGBTQIA+ Rights

Molina wore UFC Pride Month shorts during his fight with Zhalgas Zhumagulov in order to benefit the LGBTQIA+ Center of Southern Nevada, which is the beneficiary of profits from sales of the UFC Pride Month T-shirts. He faced fierce backlash from some MMA fans. Molina expressed surprise to see such a reaction in 2022, and frustration at the perceived bigotry of those attacking him on social media.

Championships and accomplishments

** Fight of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 11–2 ,

, Decision (split) , UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–2 , Daniel da Silva , TKO (elbows and punches) , UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:46 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–2 , Aori Qileng , Decision (unanimous) ,

, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 , Jacob Silva , Decision (unanimous) , Dana White's Contender Series 30 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 , Kenny Porter , Submission (arm-triangle choke) , FAC 2 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:38 ,

Independence, Missouri Independence is the fifth-largest city in Missouri and the county seat of Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson County. Independence is a satellite city of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the largest suburb on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2 , Chance Wilson , Submission (rear-naked choke) , LFA 76 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:01 ,

Park City, Kansas Park City is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States, and a suburb of Wichita. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 8,333. History The first Park City was founded in 1870. Located to the northwest of Wichita, it w ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–2 , Johnnie Roades , Submission (rear-naked choke) , KC Fighting Alliance 34 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:16 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–2 , Joey Estrada , TKO (submission to punches) , KC Fighting Alliance 30 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:15 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–2 , Joey Scanlan , TKO (punches) , Carden Combat Sports 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:51 ,

Kansas City, Kansas Kansas City, abbreviated as "KCK", is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas, and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As of ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–2 , Chance Camacho , TKO (punches) , KC Fighting Alliance 27 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:22 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 1–2 , Nate Smith , Decision (split) , Victory FC: Fight Night Coco Key , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–1 , Delfino Benitez , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Victory FC 58 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:43 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 0–1 , Steven Merrill , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Victory FC: Fight Night at Harrahs 5 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:03 ,

Council Bluffs, Iowa Council Bluffs is a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States. The city is the most populous in Southwest Iowa, and is the third largest and a primary city of the Omaha–Council Bluffs ...

, United States ,

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Molina, Jeff 1997 births Living people American male mixed martial artists Flyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters People from Lakewood Township, New Jersey American male sport wrestlers Amateur wrestlers